Ariel Cheung: Journalist

"The important thing is to not stop questioning." - Albert Einstein

You always know a journalist when you see one. Most likely, she is toting a mug of lukewarm coffee, sporting a lanyard weighed down by a pack of press passes displayed like trophies and running after someone who does not want to be interviewed. There's a sparkle of determination in her eye and a tilt to her chin that suggests she knows how to get what she wants. She's always spouting off new and radical ideas for content, articles and multimedia. She can write a brief in 15 minutes and a masterpiece in one day. Deadlines are her breakfast, lunch and dinner, and journalism is her life.

I am this person. My name is Ariel Cheung, and I am a Chicago journalist, most recently with DNAinfo Chicago. In my six years as a reporter, I learned a few vital lessons. First, immerse yourself in as many types of media possible. Second, the best stories are like buried treasure — you must dig to find them. And finally, in order to succeed, you must do more than is expected of you.

These lessons are the result of my reporting on Chicago neighborhoods and the criminal justice system, three internships at metropolitan dailies and years at the helm of the University of Cincinnati's independent student newspaper. From my first article in The News Record to my work here in Chicago, I've come a long way. I've developed a passion for in-depth feature reporting and the ability to tell a person's story to the world. I've learned that if you want to shine, you have to go above and beyond. But most importantly, I've discovered that journalism is exactly where I want to be.

Because one thing is certain about journalists: Despite the backbreaking workload and the never-ending pursuit for a story, a journalist loves what she does and couldn't imagine doing anything else. Journalism is my passion. Journalism is my life.

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